Korean grammar · Level 2 · 2급
V/A-아서/어서 (reason)
Because, so
In Unit 3, -아서/어서 linked steps; it also gives a reason: 맛있어서 많이 먹었어요 — “it was tasty, so I ate a lot”. The reason never takes the past tense. It can't lead into a request or a suggestion (-(으)세요, -(으)ㄹ까요) — use -(으)니까 for that. But apologies and thanks always take -아서/어서: 늦어서 미안해요.
| When | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| last vowel ㅏ or ㅗ | -아서 | 많다 → 많아서 · 좋다 → 좋아서 |
| any other vowel | -어서 | 먹다 → 먹어서 · 맛있다 → 맛있어서 |
| ㅡ drops | -아서 / -어서 | 아프다 → 아파서 · 바쁘다 → 바빠서 |
| 하다 | 해서 | 피곤하다 → 피곤해서 |
| apologies and thanks | -아서/어서 | 늦어서 미안해요 · 선물을 줘서 고마워요 |
Examples
배가 아파서 병원에 갔어요.
My stomach hurt, so I went to the doctor.
호떡이 맛있어서 많이 먹었어요.
The hotteok was good, so I ate a lot.
늦어서 미안해요.
Sorry I'm late.
Practise it in context · Level 2, Unit 4
Where does it hurt?
A dialogue with audio, practice that checks itself, Hoya’s mistakes, a reading and a writing task.
Open the unit →